Bali’s Healthy Food Producers from A to Z

Our local food producers are island treasures. Practicing sustainable agricultural techniques and using pure ingredients with no preservatives or genetically modified additives, Bali’s organic growers and producers of wholesome home-grown products are essential for promoting environmentally responsible consumption in Bali’s ever growing population. The “Big Food” and “Big Organic” corporations have not yet arrived on Bali, which means that products from small family farms are not in the premium price section of the supermarket. Together, they have proven that healthy cuisine does not have to taste like old tires. Although accounting for only a small percentage of all foods sold, this select group has evolved in response to the lucrative and ever expanding consumer demand for healthy food. Here the focus is not only on food products but also on what niche each producer holds in this specialised but fast growing market.

Jams, jellies, marmalades, zesty chutneys, nut butters, honey, seasoned salts, Colloidal Silver. Products made from 100% local fruits, spices and vegetables with no preservatives, colourings or artificial ingredients. Established in 1986, their processing plant is 9 km north of Cempaka Belimbing in the mountains of Pupuan in Tabanan. Jams and jellies are packed with more fruit than most commercial brands so that the sugar content is kept at a minimum, and are more reasonably priced than expensive imported items.

Selection of over 40 Premium loose leaf teas and herbal infusions imported from the major tea producing countries including Darjeeling from India, and Ti Kuan Yin, Lapsang Souchong and Jasmine from China. An active member of the Indonesian Tea Board’s campaign, they work closely with several top Indonesian gardens to improve the quality of product and the quality of life for Indonesia’s smallholder tea farmers.

The same person who owns Zula owns this vegetarian restaurant, serving nutritious and well-balanced organic food. Wide variety of organic products and dry goods from chickpeas and sesame tahini to hummus and Maca Jahva (a natural alternative to coffee) and hand harvested organic sea salt available in many supermarkets and specialty stores around Kuta, Sanur and Seminyak. Also runs a food processing kitchen and vegetarian gourmet cooking school. Membership (Rp.1 million) qualifies you for a 10% discount for one year.

The island’s best known homegrown coffee producer and one of Indonesia’s premier gourmet coffee roasters which cultivates high grade Robusta and Arabica beans in the highlands of Bali and other islands. Using traditional processing methods, beans are pounded by hand to remove the dried husks and kept in a warehouse for a year to mature. No artificial flavours or chemicals added. Sold in Bali’s grocery stores, supermarkets, or exclusively packaged for hotels and duty free shops.

Their main restaurant in the hamlet of Abangan is at the end of a 10 minute walk off Ubud’s main road. Tel. 0361 730-1839, hp 081-338-644-037 (Nila), hp 081-238-663-10 (Agung).

Homemade juices, soy milk, kombucha teas, honey, jam, tofu, organic (chemical-free) vegetables and several varieties of rice grown on a model 0.40 ha family-size farm established in 2006. Oded and Nila actually run two businesses: the vegetable and rice growing and sales division and the post-harvest food processing and restaurant division with branches in Penestanan (near Ubud) and in Penelokan (Kintamani).

The only 100% locally produced range of Mexican foods in Indonesia: 6” fresh corn tortillas, 8” and 11” fresh flour tortillas, taco shells, cocktail party taco shells, corn tortilla chips, salsas and homemade granola made from the restaurant’s own recipes developed and refined in TJs’ kitchens for over 26 years. TJ’s uses as many organic ingredients as possible, 90% of which are locally grown, with no artificial additives or colourings added.